Food Archives - AskTheRav

May I buy packaged salmon from a non-Kosher fish store, without a Hechsher and not knowing what knife was used to cut it, with the intention of rinsing it before use?

One should not buy any fish from a non kosher store if the skin has been removed and you can not identify if it has scales (and is actually a…

I cracked two eggs, one after the other in the same cup and found a blood spot in one of the yolks. Since they were together, does that render both of them not Kosher? Do I throw out the whole thing or can I just remove the yolk with the spot?

If they are not fertilized eggs, just remove the yolk with the blood spot. See here for more information.

Can I eat food that was under someone’s seat on a flight and the person slept?

Yes. Sources: מטעמי ההיתר: אינו בגדר מטה שמיועד בעיקר לישיבה; השינה בגדר שינת עראי; המטה אינה ראוי׳ לביאה; האוכל אינו על הקרקע (אהל זרוק וכו׳); המקום מלכתחילה מיועד להניח…

I served platters of green peppers, onions, and lettuce by a meal with bagels and salads which also had Milchig (cream cheese and cheese). I requested not to use the same utensils as the Milchig with everything else, but I don’t think people were careful about it. Can I wash the vegetables and cook them together with hot Fleishigs? They were cut with a Pareve knife and I put oil and salt on the onions before leaving them overnight.

If you make sure to wash them well so that there is definitely no Milchigs whatsoever on the vegetables, then it is OK.

Do hard boiled eggs need to be checked?

Hard boiled eggs need not be checked. Sources: ברא״ש ע״ז ג, כט, דלא חיישינן לדם בביצים לפי שאינו מצוי, שאנו אוכלים ביצים צלויים ואין בודקים אם י״ב דם. וברא״ש…

I usually eat candies and drinks with an OU on it. I wanted to know if it is OK to also eat gushers, a product which includes in it ‘white grape juice concentrate’. Is there something we are more careful with, as Lubavitchers, regarding Stam Yeinom, that others (and other Hashgochas) are not?

There is no reason to be concerned about Stam Yeinom in this case. However, there is a non-Halachic Chumra of Reiyas Nochri that many Hechsherim are not concerned with, as…

Is one allowed to keep medicine and vitamins in the bathroom? And if not, if one put them there already, can they still be used?

It is permitted as it is not food. גם במאכלים לא מצאנו להדיא שאסור להכניס. והוא רק משום נקיות או רו״ר, ול״ש כבנדו״ד שעטופים ומכוסים. ובפרט בביהכ״ס שבזמננו. וכשהביהכ״ס משמש…

Our fish store just bought a fish that has scales and fins. The scales aren’t noticeable and the name of the fish is kingklip. Is this fish kosher or not?

There are those who permit it, but most Poskim maintain kingklip is Treif for many reasons. This is the position of Harav Elyashiv, Harav Shternbuch, the Eida Charedis, the OU,…

Regarding an onion cut with a Fleishig knife, can I have Milchigs before/after?

One may not eat or drink Milchig (dairy) products within six hours of eating meat. According to Halachah, if onions or other sharp foods are cut with a Fleishig (meat) knife, they…

Does eating this salad make me Fleishig?

Garlic was cut with a Fleishig knife right after cutting chicken with it. It surely had some chicken fat on it. That garlic was put into a pot of tomatoes…